SUSAN NJANJI, Harare | Thursday
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe on Thursday marked Zimbabwe’s 22nd anniversary of independence with fresh appeals for Zimbabweans to unite and help the southern African country to grow in the aftermath of disputed elections that returned him to power.
”Let us build our country, let us bury our differences,” said Mugabe amid unprecedented economic and political crises in the southern African country.
”It is time to close ranks.. time to grow, time to develop and time for the empowerment and enrichment of our people, and this can only be done when a nation is united,” he told a rally attended by 40,000 people at a sports stadium in the capital.
Mugabe first made a call for unity at his inauguration after the controversial March 9-11 elections, of which the opposition has rejected the results.
”We cannot avoid each other, we are bound by our nationality, by that flag, we are bound therefore by our belonging to Zimbabwe as one people, one nation, let us work to be one,” he told the crowd that included the new executive mayor of the capital, Elias Mudzuri, of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
Mugabe made the calls as Zimbabwe flounders in the grip of a severe economic crisis characterised by shortages of basic goods, triple-digit inflation and unemployment rates hovering around 70%.
”Avoid quarrels, avoid fights but concentrate on the building of our nation. We we are ready for that if other people are ready.
”Let’s work together regardless of our differences, our political persuasion … difference of religion, difference of cultures, let’s work together as one Zimbabwe,” said the 78-year old president.
Mugabe’s ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) and the MDC are next month due to resume talks aimed at ending the political and economic crisis.
In his 30-minute speech, Mugabe said the country’s independence and sovereignty were threatened by Western imperialism.
”We mark our 22nd anniversary at a time when the sovereignty and independence we so deeply cherish are under unprecedented threat.
”There is an imperial bid by hostile countries of the West to erode our electoral democracy and qualify our independence,” he said.
But he vowed to ”fiercely guard our independence and stubbornly defend our sovereignty”.
”Our democracy was not made in England, Germany, Denmark or America. If anything it was unmade by those countries,” Mugabe said.
”We do not stand beholden to any nation great or small, we do not owe our existence to any … power, none at all,” he said.
Mugabe admitted the country is in the grips of an economic crisis.
”Basic commodities are beyond the reach of many, poverty is increasing,” he said. He also acknowledged the severe shortage of foreign exchange in the country.
”There has to be a new deal for our people,” he said.
Referring to his government’s controversial land reforms which have been spearheaded by the veterans of the country’s liberation war, Mugabe said some 210 000 families had been resettled under a small-holder scheme while 54 000 others who had been promised large-scale farms have not yet been given their land.
”The 54 000 …new farmers must be speedily allocated so that by August this year every one of these families is on the promised land. These families need time to prepare for the impending season,” he said.
Harare plans to distribute to landless blacks more than 10 million hectares of land it has forcibly taken from white farmers.
The land reform scheme is aimed at correcting colonial imbalances which left some 4,500 white farmers owning and controlling 70% of the country’s best land. Britain announces 4.6 mln pounds emergency food aid to Malawi. -Sapa